MacRumors

Tony Fadell, who formerly worked at Apple and is widely known as the "father" of the iPod, today commented on the recent discontinuation of the iPod Classic in an interview with Fast Company, saying that he's "sad to see it go."

"The iPod's been a huge part of my life for the last decade. The team that worked on the iPod poured literally everything into making it what it was." Eighteen months after launch, the iPod owned the portable media player category, and for the next decade, it continued to do so. "Products just don't come around like that often," laments Fadell. "The iPod was one-in-a-million."

Though he's sad to see the end of the iPod, Fadell notes that the product was "born to die," with employees speculating in 2003 or 2004 what would kill the device. "Even back then, at Apple," says Fadell, "we knew it was streaming. We called it the 'celestial jukebox in the sky.' And we have that now: music in the cloud."

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The final iPod classic was introduced in September of 2009, and rumors of a discontinuation of the product circulated for years before Apple retired the device in September of 2014. Following the announcements for the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, and the Apple Watch on September 9, Apple removed the iPod classic from its online store.

Apple's iPod sales have been dwindling for the last several years, and in January, Tim Cook noted that the iPod was a "declining business" for Apple. As of Q3 2014, the iPod made up just one percent of Apple's total revenue, being dwarfed many times over by the iPhone and iPad, both of which have adopted the iPod's music playing capabilities.

beatsApple is planning to discontinue Beats Music, the streaming music service that it acquired as part of an acquisition of Beats Electronics back in May. According to TechCrunch, multiple sources that include "several prominent employees at Apple and Beats" have confirmed that Apple is shutting down the music service.

Many engineers from Beats Music have already been moved off the product and onto other projects at Apple, including iTunes. It's not clear when exactly Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre's music service will be shut down or what Apple will do with streaming, but every source with knowledge of the situation that we talked to agreed Apple plans to sunset the Beats Music brand.

Apple first acquired Beats Music in May, and at the time, announced plans to leave the music service untouched. There were no plans to integrate Beats Music into iTunes, with the company suggesting that it would remain as a standalone service.

TechCrunch suggests that the fact that Beats Music did not come pre-loaded onto the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus serves as a "red flag" that the music service is on its way out. The site also pointed towards an Apple Watch demo that included an "unannounced music app with a blue play button that instantly started playing songs when tapped during a demo," but that icon appears to correspond to the Remote app and not a new music app.

Apple shutting down Beats Music is unusual news given the efforts that the company has gone to in order to promote it in recent weeks, adding it to the list of "Apps Made by Apple" and recommending the app to new iOS users. If Apple plans to do away with Beats Music, it is unclear what further moves it will make in the streaming music arena. Beats Music was seen as the company's answer to popular services like Spotify, aimed at bolstering flagging music sales.

According to one source who spoke to TechCrunch, Apple might be planning to roll streaming music into iTunes, creating a unified Apple music service after shutting down Beats Music.

Update: According to an Apple representative that spoke to Re/code, the company is not planning to shut down Beats Music.

So why would Apple plan to shut down Beats Music, as a TechCrunch headline reports?
Answer: It's not.

Tom Neumayr, says the TechCrunch story is "not true", but wouldn’t elaborate.

While the spokesperson declined to elaborate, Re/code suggests that while Apple does not plan to shut down Beats Music, it may "modify it over time," changing the brand name.

Apple today released a new version of Mail for OS X Yosemite, fixing an issue that could prevent users from composing a message. The update is available to all developers with the Yosemite Developer Preview installed, as well as public beta testers.

The software can be downloaded through the software update function of the Mac App Store.

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A new public beta version of Yosemite and Yosemite Developer Preview 8 were released last week, on Monday. The software is expected to continue on in its beta testing phase until late October, when it will be released to the public.

OS X Yosemite brings several new features to the operating system, including Continuity, which offers unprecedented integration between iOS and OS X. The operating system also includes a complete visual overhaul with a flatter iOS 7-style look.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced a DisplayPort Alternate Mode for the upcoming USB Type-C connector standard, which will let USB-Type C connectors and cables deliver DisplayPort signals.

As noted by AnandTech, DisplayPort technology built into USB Type-C has the potential to connect monitors, cables, docking stations, and more. With the ability to support displays and carry video data via USB, USB Type-C could potentially serve as the next Thunderbolt connector, powering 4K and higher resolution displays.

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The DisplayPort Alt Mode repurposes some or all of the four existing SuperSpeed USB lanes to deliver full DisplayPort performance, and uses other signaling available in the USB Type-C connector for DisplayPort's AUX channel and HPD (Hot Plug Detection) function. This enables computers, tablets, smartphones, displays, and docking stations to implement the new USB Type-C connector at both ends while using the DisplayPort Standard over USB Type-C to transmit high-resolution A/V along with USB data and power.

Finalized in August, the USB Type-C connector specifications are much improved over previous USB generations. The slim connector is entirely reversible, making it easier to plug in, and due to its thin design, it's suitable for both mobile device and larger computers. It's also certified for USB 3.1 data rates of up to 10 Gbps and can deliver a maximum of 100W of power.

With an alternate DisplayPort mode and four lanes of signaling, one USB Type-C cable could be used to provide power to a device while also driving a connected display. According to VESA, Type-C ports and the first DisplayPort Alt Mode capable devices (using DisplayPort 1.2a) will be available beginning in 2015.

Earlier this morning, a rumor suggested Apple's upcoming 12-inch MacBook would take advantage of the new reversible USB Type-C connector, which is plausible as that device is rumored to begin shipping in mid-2015.

Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ship with higher capacity batteries that deliver exceptional battery life, but as pointed out by iLounge and MacRumors forum members, the two new iPhone models can also charge significantly faster when used with an iPad charging adapter rather than the smaller adapter included with the iPhones.

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According to preliminary tests using a Kill-A-Watt device and OS X system information, the charging profile for the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus match that of the iPad, allowing them to charge using 2.1A. Unlike earlier iPhone models which would only draw 5W regardless of the charger being used, the new phones are capable of drawing up to 12W, allowing them to charge at a faster rate. Early feedback from owners suggest the larger iPhone 6 Plus can charge fully in approximately two hours from an iPad adapter.

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iPhone 5s (l) versus iPhone 6 Plus (r) charging profiles in OS X system report

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus include the standard square 1A/5W charging block that shipped with previous iPhone models. To obtain these faster charging rates, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners may use the 2.1A/12W charger from the iPad or the high-power USB port of a newer model Mac.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple's iPhone 6 Plus may be the most talked about iPhone model due to its larger screen and bigger battery, but early adoption rate metrics (via Mashable), suggest more customers are choosing the smaller iPhone 6 over its bigger counterpart. How much of the difference is due to customer preference versus constrained supplies of the larger model is unknown, however.

According to ad impression data provided by Chitika, the adoption rate for the iPhone 6 is more than 7x higher than the iPhone 6 Plus. On the Monday following launch, the smaller iPhone accounted for 1.5 percent of North American web traffic, compared to 0.2 percent for the iPhone 6 Plus.

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Mixpanel, which measures mobile app usage, reports similar results with the iPhone 6 reaching 2.72 percent of measured traffic and the iPhone 6 Plus trailing with 0.54 percent. Mobile analytics firm Fiksu provides a third set of mobile metrics that also suggest the iPhone 6 is more popular among launch day iPhone purchasers.

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Chitika explains these results by suggesting that the iPhone 6 Plus may be less popular among consumers because it is niche product due to its larger screen size. Supply constraints also may be a factor, with the iPhone 6 Plus selling out quickly online and reportedly being available only in limited amounts this weekend in stores.

Related Forum: iPhone

DisplayMate, which routinely performs thorough testing of display quality on a variety of electronics, has released its iPhone 6 Display Technology Shoot-Out, taking a look at the performance of Apple's latest handsets using new "Retina HD" technology. While DisplayMate's Ray Soneira has not shied away from criticizing Apple's displays on some recent devices, he found the iPhone 6 Plus to have the "best performing Smartphone LCD display that we have ever tested" while the iPhone 6 also scored well in testing.

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While the "best ever" designation includes the caveat of applying to LED displays and DisplayMate continues to rate the OLED display from the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as the best overall smartphone display, the gains seen in the iPhone 6 and particularly the iPhone 6 Plus are impressive.

Based on our extensive Lab tests and measurements, the iPhone 6 Plus is the Best performing Smartphone LCD display that we have ever tested. It delivers uniformly consistent all around Top Tier display performance. The iPhone 6 Plus is only the second Smartphone display (LCD or OLED) to ever get all Green (Very Good to Excellent) Ratings in all test and measurement categories (except for Brightness variation with Viewing Angle, which is the case for all LCDs) since we started the Display Technology Shoot-Out article series in 2006, an impressive achievement for a display. The iPhone 6 Plus has raised the bar for top LCD display performance up by a notch.

In particular, the iPhone 6 Plus display sets new records among LCD displays for peak brightness, low reflectance, and several measures of contrast and accuracy.

DisplayMate finds the iPhone 6 display to have many of the same strong areas of performance as in the iPhone 6 Plus, but the lower resolution and pixel density hold the smaller model back somewhat.

Most rescaled images look noticeably better on the iPhone 6 Plus with 2.1 Mega Pixels compared to just 1.0 Mega Pixels on the iPhone 6. In addition, even at the native display resolution, fine text and graphics look better on the iPhone 6 Plus if you look carefully and closely at the screen (because you may want to or need to).

The display on the iPhone 6 is none-the-less still a Very Good display, and most buyers will be happy with its performance, but it’s somewhat disappointing that Apple went for satisfactory as opposed to the best.

DisplayMate's report includes a variety of charts and tables comparing the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to the iPhone 5/5s that are worth a look, as well as some discussion of how LCDs such as those found in the latest iPhones compares with OLEDs favored by Samsung.

Related Forum: iPhone

macbook_air_chassisFollowing a previous report claiming Apple's much-rumored 12" ultra-slim notebook is planned to arrive in silver, gold, and space gray color options, Jack March has issued a follow-up report sharing additional details on the machine.

According to March's report, which MacRumors believes to be based on legitimate information, the new notebook has a much thinner design that appears to sacrifice many of the usual ports seen on Apple's current notebooks and may adopt the new reversible USB Type C connector that has seen its specifications recently finalized.

A source familiar with Apple’s plans describes the 12 inch Macbook Air as having a noticeably thinner design, the source wouldn’t give dimensions however noted that the thinner design may sacrifice the standard USB port and Apple will move to the reversible USB Type C with this product, It is assumed Apple will include an adapter in the box for backwards compatibility.

Interestingly, the report raises some questions about charging on the notebook, indicating that the usual MagSafe port has been removed in favor of a new, unspecified charging method.

In line with previous rumors, the machine is reportedly fanless, suggesting it will adopt an ultra low-power processor such as the Broadwell-Y Core M processors recently announced by Intel. The body of the new notebook is also said to be narrower than the current MacBook Air, with narrower display bezels and a keyboard stretching right to the edges of the machine. Finally, the speakers are said to be located above the keyboard with visible grilles, unlike the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro that have their speakers located underneath the keyboard.

Apple's 12-inch notebook has been rumored for some time, with the launch perhaps being pushed back due to multiple delays for Intel's Broadwell chips. March's previous report indicated Apple appears to be currently looking toward a mid-2015 launch.

(Image: Chassis of current MacBook Air)

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook, MacBook Air

AnandTech spent the weekend benchmarking the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, comparing the duo to the iPhone 5s and competing Android handsets. The test results show that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models are at the top of the charts in CPU benchmarks and battery life, while the iPhone 6 Plus lags in graphics performance due to the larger screen.

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In in GPU benchmarks, we generally see a pretty solid lead over the competition for the iPhone 6/A8. It's seems quite clear that there is a significant impact to GPU performance in the iPhone 6 Plus due to the 2208x1242 resolution that all content is rendered at. It seems that this is necessary though, as the rendering system for iOS cannot easily adapt to arbitrary resolutions and display sizes.

AnandTech also examined battery life, noting that "Apple has managed to do something quite incredible with battery life. " Even with a smaller 1810 mAh battery, the iPhone 6 manages to beat out the iPhone 5s and most other Android phones on the market. Not surprisingly with its 2910 mAH battery, the iPhone 6 Plus grabs second place behind the Huawei Ascend Mate 2.

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Apple introduced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during its recent September press event and launched the phones on September 19. The two handsets include Apple's new A8 processor, M8 motion co-processor, 8-megapixel iSight camera, faster 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi‑Fi and NFC. Demand for the two phones was high with Apple selling 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units in the first weekend of sales.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple today announced that opening weekend sales of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus topped ten million units, breaking the previous record of nine million units set by the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last year.

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“Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin.

As with previous years, the company also claims that demand for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has been very high, as more orders will be fulfilled over the coming weeks. Apple announced last Monday that it processed four million first-day pre-orders on September 12.

Currently, shipping estimates for new iPhone 6 orders remains at 7-10 business days, while the iPhone 6 Plus is still showing a shipping delay of 3-4 weeks. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will also be available in 20 more countries including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and more on September 26.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular read-it-later app Instapaper today received a significant update for iOS 8, bringing a redesigned user interface, enhanced saving capabilities, and deeper integration with notifications. The app is also now available for free, as users also have the option to pay for premium features.

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Users can now save content to Instapaper from any application that supports iOS' built-in share functionality by way of a new app extension. The app also includes text-to-speech functionality, and curates saved articles in iOS 8's Notification Center on a daily basis. A $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year subscription to Instapaper Premium unlocks a number of other features, including full-text search, unlimited highlighting in articles, and text-to-speech playlists.

Instapaper is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

With the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus now available to customers, Apple has updated its support information to include U.S. repair pricing for the two devices. While all new devices include a standard one year warranty that can be extended with AppleCare+, the standard warranty does not cover accidental damage.

Repairs for screen damage, which includes cracked or shattered displays, will cost $109 for the iPhone 6 and $129 for the iPhone 6 Plus, along with a $6.95 shipping fee.

Accidental damage (water damage, for example) or out-of-warranty damage to an iPhone will require users to pay a fee of $299 for the iPhone 6 or $329 for the iPhone 6 Plus, along with the $6.95 shipping fee. That’s far more affordable than the cost of a new device, but it is still more expensive than iPhone 5s repairs, which are priced at $269.

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Apple also quotes a $79 flat fee for a battery replacement, but devices that have a defective battery will be eligible for free repairs for the entirety of the one year warranty that comes standard with iOS devices.

Apple does offers AppleCare+, which covers two incidents of accidental damage for a $79 service fee each time, cutting down on the cost of a replacement device. AppleCare+ is available directly from Apple for $99 in the United States.

Verizon began rolling out its Advanced Calling service earlier this week, enabling voice over LTE (VoLTE) capabilities for select devices that support the service, which includes the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.

Numerous iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users are reporting that the VoLTE service is now functional, allowing Verizon iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users to use simultaneous voice and data capabilities for the first time when connected to a 4G LTE network. MacRumors has confirmed that VoLTE is indeed working, enabling users to browse the web or access apps while on a voice call.

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In addition to enabling simultaneous voice and data, Verizon's Advanced Calling features also allow for High-Definition voice calls, which are said to be more "natural-sounding" and Verizon-branded video calls.

Advanced Calling 1.0, a first-generation service suite enabled by Voice over LTE, or VoLTE, technology, is now available on America's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network with XLTE. With Advanced Calling 1.0, there is a clear difference. You will be able to enjoy natural-sounding High-Definition (HD) Voice and a Video Calling experience that's as simple as making a traditional voice call.

Users can enabled Advanced Calling features by visiting the Verizon website and adding the feature to their accounts. Users also need to make sure both Voice and Data are turned on in the iPhone's Settings app. Go to Settings --> Cellular --> Enable LTE --> Tap Voice & Data.

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Verizon's Advanced Calling features are limited to the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, the LG G2, and the Samsung Galaxy S5.

(Thanks, Will!)

With the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus in the hands of millions of customers as of today, many users will be looking to purchase cases for their new devices. Despite the fact that the phones were just released, there are already quite a few options on the market as many case makers began preparing cases for the devices months ago.

We've rounded up some of the available iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases below, with options ranging from ultra thin and light to those that offer complete protection.

Spigen - Spigen has a range of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases available, each offering varying degrees of protection. The Tough Armor case, for example, advertises "extreme" protection with a foldable kickstand, while the Air Skin is advertised as the thinnest case ever made at 0.4mm thick. Spigen's cases range in price from $14.99 to $34.99, with most shipping out in 7 to 10 business days. Spigen's range of cases can also be found on Amazon at somewhat lower prices.

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Otterbox - Otterbox has a selection of cases for both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, including the ultra protective Defender series, which is a three-layer rugged case designed to offer full protection for the iPhone's display. The Defender series is bulky, so Otterbox also offers the thinner Symmetry line and the Commuter series. Priced from $39.90 to $69.90, Otterbox plans to make its cases available soon.

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Apple - Apple is selling its own line of cases, specifically designed to complement the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Cases are available in leather and silicone, in several different colors. Apple's cases are available through the Apple online store or through its retail stores beginning today. Prices range from $35 to $49.

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Speck - Speck is selling several different cases designed for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, with prices ranging from $40 to $45. The traditional CandyShell case is available in multiple variations, including a Grip version that makes the iPhone easier to hold, an Inked version that comes with high-res graphics, and the Card version that has room for a credit card and cash. Speck also has the MightyShell case, which offers extra protection. Some variations are in stock immediately, while others are coming soon.

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Case-Mate - Case-Mate has a selection of particularly flashy cases available for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, with designs ranging from gold glitter to a carbon alloy in a diamond design. Case-Mate also has a few less flashy cases available, including the Barely There case that's designed to be thin and the Slim Tough Case that includes a shock-resistant bumper. Case-Mate's cases are available now and range in price from $20 to $80.

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Incipio - Incipio has a huge selection of cases for both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, most of which are thin and affordable. The company's well-known Feather case, for example is thin and lightweight, constructed from polycarbonate with an EVA interior liner. Another case, the DualPro, is slightly thicker but provides two layers for extra protection. Incipio's cases range in price from $20 to $45.

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Society6 - Society6 takes a blank iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus case (in slim or "tough") and customizes it with one of hundreds of images. Designs run the gamut from scenic vistas to abstract art to silly pictures like a panda in an astronaut suit or a llama in a taxi. Cases are priced at $35 to $38.

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Groupon - Groupon has several iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases from a variety of manufacturers that are available for pre-order at discounted prices. Custom cases that are user-designed from MyCustomCase can be purchased for $20, a $25 savings. Groupon has a pre-order for the iHome Folio available for the iPhone 6 for $12.99, and the iHome Sheer case for the iPhone 6 for $9.99.

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Groupon also has the MOTA iPhone 6 Protective case available for pre-order for $9.99, down from $39.99, and it also has the Aduro BookCase Folio and Wallet Case for iPhone 6/6 Plus for $11.99. Finally, Groupon has a deal on the PRESS PLAY 3,100 mAh battery case for the iPhone 6, offering it for $39.99 down from $99.99.

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MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.

Apple's 20-nanometer A8 processor in the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus was fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), according to Chipworks (via iFixit). Chipworks has been analyzing the various parts in the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 plus following its release today.

While the iPhone 5s used a 28-nanometer processor, the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus have a 20-nanometer processor, as has been widely rumored. According to TSMC, its 20-nanometer process technology can result in speeds that are much higher than its 28-nanometer chips. The 20-nanometer process also results in a physically smaller chip that draws less power.

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Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, there were multiple back and forth rumors that made it unclear whether Samsung or TSMC was manufacturing the chips destined for the new iPhones. Previous generation chips, such as the A7 in the iPhone 5s, were manufactured by Samsung, but Apple reportedly entered into a partnership with TSMC in an effort to reduce its reliance on rival Samsung. The shift is also part of a larger effort by Apple to diversify its supply chain, which cuts down on potential manufacturing issues.

Though TSMC created the 20-nanometer chips for the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus, rumors have suggested that Apple hasn't ended its relationship with Samsung entirely. The company is rumored to be producing the 14-nanometer chips that will be used in future iOS devices next year, indicating that Apple has plans to continue having both TSMC and Samsung create chips for its devices.

According to Apple, the A8 chip in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus offers a 25 percent faster CPU and 50 percent better graphics performance compared to the A7 in the iPhone 5s.

Related Forum: iPhone

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were subjected to their first drop test yesterday after the two devices went on sale in Australia. While the 6 and 6 Plus fared well when dropped on their backs, the screens did see significant shattering when dropped face down on the concrete.

A second drop test conducted today saw somewhat different results. Android Authority dropped the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus in several different ways, including face down, and the two devices saw little damage aside from scuffs. Even when dropped on their faces with a decent amount of force from waist high, the screens remained intact.


A similar result was seen after a genuine accidental drop. The first person to receive an iPhone 6 in Australia opened up the package on camera and immediately dropped the phone on the hard ground, where it miraculously came away unscathed.


It's impossible to determine the overall durability of the screen in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus based on a limited number of drop tests that were conducted under different conditions, but this additional data does serve to reassure users that the devices do have the potential to survive a fall.

Still, given the increased size of the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, it may be advisable for users to purchase a case. In fact, several reviews of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus conducted by tech sites suggested the devices "need" a case, and described them as slippery. The Verge, for example, said the iPhone 6 Plus "works better in a case" because it makes the phone easier to hold, hides the camera bump, and covers "the weird lines on the back."

Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus went on sale today, and the devices are now in the hands of millions of customers around the world as customers pick up phones from the Apple Store and receive their pre-orders. New orders for the devices from the Apple Store will ship in 7 to 10 days for the iPhone 6 and 3 to 4 weeks for the iPhone 6 Plus.

Related Forum: iPhone

With Apple's retail stores beginning sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus today, customers have been lining up to either pick up their pre-ordered devices or take their chances on launch-day supplies without reservations. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster conducted his annual line count at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan and found a record 1,880 people in line at 8:00 AM, an increase of 33% over last year's line.

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Tim Cook at final employee meeting before opening doors of Palo Alto store (via @CNBCnow)

Apple executives are also getting into the spirit of the iPhone launch, with CEO Tim Cook making his traditional visit to the Palo Alto store to greet customers. Cook walked the line and posed for photos with customers before heading into the store to meet with staff and open the door to welcome customers.

Several other executives are also out and about, with new retail chief Angela Ahrendts presiding over her first iPhone launch by visiting the flagship store in Sydney, Australia, and Internet software and services chief Eddy Cue making an appearance at the Stanford store.

Nearly all Apple retail stores in launch countries have now opened for business today, with only the three stores in Honolulu, Hawaii yet to begin sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Related Forum: iPhone

While the official reviews of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were published several days ago, with the devices now making their way into customers' hands we are starting to see broader first impressions of the larger iPhones.

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Case from MacRumors giveaway, based on rumored design specs (Photo by @adam_moreno)

Several posters in our forums have highlighted the high-quality "Retina HD" displays on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but have observed that apps yet to be optimized for the larger displays appear "quite blurry" or "'big' and disgusting" due to scaling issues.

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Photo by jchiou

Another aspect being noticed by users is the much louder vibration on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, something highlighted by John Gruber in his review earlier this week.

The iPhone 6 has a noticeably stronger vibrator to me, and with the iPhone 6 Plus, it’s so powerful it’s actually a bit noisy — the sound made by the 6 Plus vibrator is so strong, I wonder if there are going to be complaints that it’s not “silent” at all.

As someone who runs his iPhone in silent mode much of the time, I definitely appreciate the stronger vibrator.

Customers are also generally praising the overall look of the new iPhones, calling them "sleek and beautifully made" and "glorious". Those opting for the gold model may notice that it is "a bit more yellow golden" than the gold iPhone 5s.

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Gold iPhone 6 (left) vs. gold iPhone 5s (Photo by @horwitz)

As for size, some customers have been concerned about placing orders for the iPhone 6 Plus without having a good idea of just how big the device really is. Reactions now that users are getting their hands on them seem to be mixed, with some saying they "love every inch" of the 5.5-inch display while others have found it too big for their tastes. Some in-store customers were able to compare the two sizes before purchasing, helping make the decision easier.

For ongoing coverage of photos and first impressions, readers are welcome to follow our consolidated thread stickied in our iPhone forum.

Related Forum: iPhone